A six-year research study by Save Youth Save Future (SYSF), a Jammu and Kashmir-based foundation, has challenged prevailing narratives surrounding unmarked graves in the Kashmir Valley. The report, “Unraveling the Truth: A Critical Study of Unmarked and Unidentified Graves in Kashmir Valley,” was released in the national Capital on Thursday.
According to the study, which surveyed graveyards in four districts — Baramulla, Kupwara, Ganderbal, and Bandipora — a significant majority of the graves contain the bodies of militants, not civilians. The research, conducted from December 2018 to December 2024,surveyed 373 graveyard sites, documented a total of 4,056 graves in which 276 graves are unmarked. Of the identified graves, the report found that 2,493 belong to foreign militants, 1,208 to local militants, 70 to “tribal invaders,” and only 9 to civilians. The study used a “triangulation methodology,” cross-referifying data through on-site visits, community interviews, and official records.
Researchers stated they meticulously documented graves with GPS coordinates and photographic evidence.
The report also highlighted that documentation exists for 99.3 per cent of the identified graves.
The findings challenge widely circulated claims that a large number of unmarked graves belong to civilians who disappeared during the conflict.
The SYSF foundation, in its statement, urged for a fact-based discussion on the issue to foster reconciliation and peace. It called for a comprehensive investigation into the 276 genuinely unmarked graves using modern DNA techniques.
The report also recommended that Pakistan acknowledge its responsibility for its citizens among the foreign militants and facilitate family visits to the graves. The research aims to contribute to a more informed understanding of the conflict, moving away from ideological narratives and focusing on verifiable evidence.